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"We'd like the judge to hear this before the ordinance goes into effect," said MALDEF staff attorney Marisol Perez.

No hearing date has been set.

Carlos Quintanilla, an activist and spokesman for business owners that have sued the city, said: "I've said all along that an election was not going to stop this."

On Saturday, Farmers Branch voters by a 2-to-1 margin approved the ordinance prohibiting landlords from renting apartments to most illegal immigrants.

"Apparently dissatisfied with the results of the election, they are showing how disingenuous those efforts were," said City Attorney Matthew Boyle.

Many opponents of the ordinance were organized for the election under a group called Let the Voters Decide.

Now that they have decided in the ordinance's favor, he noted, opponents want the courts to decide.

Boyle was optimistic about his chances of averting a restraining order. He said he is preparing a letter for the dozen apartment complexes affected explaining how to comply.

Ordinance supporters said after Saturday's vote that they think the measure now has the weight of an election behind it.

"It's not just five white men, it's the whole city," said Tom Bohmier, a leader of Support Farmers Branch, referring to the five council members who approved the ban.

The ordinance requires apartment managers to verify that renters are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants before leasing to them, with some exceptions. Violators would face a misdemeanor charge punishable by a fine of up to $500.